The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-12-24

AAuSH HoetC JUG C"SCt Seop Avn" oa"s
then paused. and over his face came .
look of such CONSERVATION and dismay
that Hal stared at him in amazement
whats the matter?" he asked.
20. Hal. must go home; must go
home at once" answered Hugh.
when you spoke of the dollhouse I
remembered that have wild canary
shut up in our Toulouse at home, and
unless 60 back at once it will starve
to DEATH"
Let it starve, Their" said Hal. "YOu
surely wouldn't miss all the fun to- NOR
row just for the sake of bird! You
can catch another. and. if you don't, it
won't be much of loss"
But promised mother wouldn't
neglect it. You know let my rabbits
starve to death. and mother said then
did not deserve to ever have another
pet. Unjust 60 back, Hal. OF course
it is hard for me to give up the fun; but
there is no help for it as far as can
see."
II don'tsee. But there 8 father; let
ask him about it," said Hal, as Mr..
Nelson appeared in the doorway of the
stable. II know he will say you would
be foolish to CO."
That was exactly what Mr.. Nelson
did say, and. he added. II will give you
what you expected to get for the bird.
Hugh. and that viii make it all right.
and save you the trouble of taking it to
the fair"
That's not it, Uncle. don't care
so much for the money. but l don't
want to let the bird die"
''But have no way of sending you
home, Hugh. I can not 60 to Barclay
again until Friday, and as it is twelve
miles from the railroad and three from
your fathers farm. there would be no adj
vantage in your going by rail. No. you
must give up this idea, my boy, and try
to forget 1t. And, after all. the life Of
a bird is a very small affair and not
worth so much worry"
Every likely it will live until Fri
day." said Hal cheerfully. land if it
don't it won't matter much. as father
says. Come on, let's set up the tar
get"
But it was with very sober face and
tagging steps that Hugh followed his
cousin to the dollhouse to get the nee
essary nail, and he showed no enthu-
siasm when his arrow pierced the mark.
His mind was dwelling on that poor
little canary twenty miles away. and
the promise he had made regarding it.
When several of the neighborhood
boys called to see Hal and take part in
the sport, Hugh slipped away. and rum
ming into the barn, threw himself on a
pile of hay in the loft to think over his
position.
The question he had to decide was
very difficult one. He wanted so much
to stay for the picnic and the fireworks.
1t would be terribly hard to give up all
the promised enjoyment and as his
uncle had said the life of bird was not
OF much consequence, anyway, and his
mother would surely excuse him. under
all the circumstances. for breaking his
promise. And if he went home he
would anger and disappoint Hal. 1t
was q long walk. too. Twenty miles.
and the road was dusty and unshaded.
He could not reach home until dark.
even If he started at once. No; it was
certainly better that he should stay at
his uncle's. There was q chance, too
though very slim one-that Ralph
would 60 into the Toulouse and see
the bird. or that his mother would re-
member it.
Then the recollection of the rabbits
he had allowed to starve to death came
to disturb him. Would his mother ex-
cuse him for breaking his promise
when he had assured her SO earnestly
that the bird should not be neglected.
No. he was sure she would not And
she would never trust him again.
but can't can't CO." he NUT
tered, with choking sound in his
throat that was almost sob. '.It's
little too much 10 expect . fellow to
give up erery thing
But. after all, his sense Of right coz
quered, and when Hal went into the
house half an hour later, to inquire for
his cousin. he found note on the bu-
reau of the room they had occupied the
night previous. which ran as follows:
Dear Hal: I'm awful sorry; but !
think l ought to go. Don't be put out
about it."
But Hal scas put out" and declared
over and over again that he would
never forgive Hugh for having treated
him so shabbily. and that he would
never again ask him to pay him visit
Perhaps he would have felt more
kindly toward his cousin had he seen
him t0iIiuO aIonO the hot d,,.fv god